- wlug - University of Waikato Mail Lists

Ubuntu security risk
by Martin, Anthony (NZ) 13 Mar '06

13 Mar '06

Ran across this today regarding possible password leaks. http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=143334 You might want to review any existing Ubuntu servers pronto. While I didn't see these same values on my Debian Sarge server, that's only one data point. Now I'm off to check my Alpha server. Yet another reason to use temporary passwords when installing systems. Best Regards, Anthony Martin

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WLUG / NZ Linux Wiki Upgrade
by Matt Brown 13 Mar '06

13 Mar '06

Hi All, The WLUG / NZ Linux Wiki has been upgraded from a very old 2002 version of PHPwiki to the latest codebase (1.3.11p1). If you notice any serious problems or regressions please let me know (off list preferably). Cheers -- Matt Brown matt(a)mattb.net.nz Mob +64 21 611 544 www.mattb.net.nz

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Slashdot | Root Password Readable in Clear Text with Ubuntu
by Matthias Dallmeier 13 Mar '06

13 Mar '06

http://it.slashdot.org/it/06/03/13/0525254.shtml FYI -- Matthias

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Re: [wlug] Novell hopes its next desktop will leapfrog Windows -- IDEAS (a little long)
by Mathew Carley 11 Mar '06

11 Mar '06

>>"When Microsoft Vista ships it will catch up to us in a number of areas, but we'll enjoy six months where Novell's Linux desktop is in the lead," Well, I think Novell just needs to start cracking the cogs of it's marketing machine. Take out some Ad's on the telly. Do the Mozilla/ImpeachBush.org/open-source thing and take out full-pagers in (for example) the New Zealand Herald (Or Helsingin Sanomat, Iltalehti or YLE for that matter - not that linux isn't already well known here). I'm sure that Saatchi & Saatchi or Admark or even a company that uses OSS to develop its advertising would be able to come up with a half decent marketing campaign to cover the 6 months between SLED and Windows Vista's release. I remember at the Novell Conference in September 2004 at the Hilton in Auckland had a pretty good little movie that ran for a few minutes (if you were there, I'm talking about the one where they had the cartoon thing based on LOTR) - something like that targeting the main reasons to BUY Linux or buy a machine with Linux on it might work quite well... Even though Microsoft hasn't really pushed out any new consumer products (save the XBOX 360 and maybe a couple of other things) in the past 4, nearly 5 years, I still see their ads all over the world on TV, billboards, street-sign ads etc in Finland, Sweden, Estonia, New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Singapore, Japan, Netherlands, France/Monaco, Italy and where ever the hell else I have been lately. Microsoft's ads are always about "We help you do what it is you want to do... productivity in the office, we help your kids learn blah blah blah"... maybe if Novell can do a "We do all that too, with an interface that makes sense, and far less problems with Viruses and Spyware! Plus out search tools are better... this is prettier, that is better, you can still do everything you do on your MS OS and for a cheaper price!" At least here Linux is used in all the banking kiosks which are located next to most ATMs that are not outside, Public Libraries, Private/University Libraries, Info Kiosks, certain Government departments, CyberCafes (Ok, well they are coffee places like Starbucks, but they have free Internet or WiFi access if you buy a coffee)... and so on. The fact that Linux is fairly widely used in comparison has kind of provided an answer to the interface question, though: Most people don't give a toss what interface they are using, so long as it works. For example, Kirjasto Kymanen (the library next to the central railway station), The "Queue Up" computers are all Linux (not sure which distro) running KDE 3.3, with Firefox, aMSN, OpenOffice 1.x and a couple of other little apps. People just go on there to check email, do banking etc, and don't seem to have any trouble adapting from Windows to Linux to Mac to whatever. There are some Windows NT and XP machines available, as well as some Macs, but you have to reserve them specifically. Anyway, getting back to my original point: yes, Linux is technically superior. Yes, Mac OS is easier to use. But it's Microsoft thats been marketing it's arse off for the past 20 years getting hundreds of millions of consumers to buy their crap. Perhaps a few side deals with the top 5 OEMs helped but thats not what I am getting at. So, Novell, start marketing now (build up some hype a-la MS), get a "Think Secret"-style fan club/insider info source site and then do a fantastic release a-la Apple... perhaps do it differently, you know... Take out the Aotea Centre or something and do a big product release. Even better if you can get it on TV3 or the news or something. Have like... "NovCon 2006" or "Novell Consumer Fair" of some sort; you know; get your shit together. Maybe some free CDs or additional software... Even better if live-installation is included for those that buy the new NLED or something - all without erasing documents and so on (OK maybe some of this is not so feasible at something the size of what I am imagining) OR... Trade in your Microsoft Software (Windows/Office, non-pirate copies of course) for a FREE copy of NLED! Or how about getting someone like [insert random tv-personality here, I will choose Kerry Woodham because I know her from when I was a kid - or even John Campbell] to like, install and show off how pretty the new interface is... on like Good Morning New Zealand or Campbell Live or whatever shows are on these days... that covers your bored housewife demographic, depending on the time of day its shown. Partner with like, Dick Smith, Harvey Norman or someone like that to get it installed on new machines, or some other nation-wide chain that services computers (I don't know if DSE does this...) to get this up and running on some more machines. It can be done, it will more than likely cost some money, but I'm sure it would be worth it. Perhaps some Mom-and-pop style Computer Stores (SmartPC, Millennium Technology, PB Tech, any others I have missed) might like to partner with Novell too... tangible benefits? We all know Microsoft offers incentives, now, don't we! I'll end it here, I am sure you all get my drift :) -- Regards Mathew Carley **UUSI** Nopeita tietokonepalveluita ja ohjausta @ www.fingeekit.com (Avaamme pian!) HostENZ Data Services A Carley Network Media Ltd. (NZ) Company http://www.hostenz.co.nz mathewc(a)hostenz.co.nz Phone (Suomalainen Yhteyshenkilö/Svensk Kontakt): +358 4 4925 0459 Phone (Helsinki Office): +358 9 2316 3712 Phone (Finland Cellular/English): +358 4 0418 6944 **NEW** Phone (France Cellular): +33 6 1811 9475 Sony IVE Number: 243 700 9835 Skype: mgcarley MSN Messenger: mgcarley(a)hostenz.co.nz The information contained in this electronic mail message and any attachments are confidential to Carley Network Media Ltd and it's subsidiaries, and may contain proprietary information or may be legally privileged. See http://www.cnmltd.net/email/ for our standard email disclaimer. Errors & Omissions Excepted. Prices in this email do not include GST unless stated otherwise.

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Upcoming WLUG committee meeting (1 week yesterday)
by Craig Box 10 Mar '06

10 Mar '06

As per the WLUG charter, please note that there is a WLUG executive committee meeting one week from today. If you wish to get an item on the agenda for this meeting, please email it to secretary(a)wlug.org.nz. Craig

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Interview with Linus Torvalds about GPL3
by Ian McDonald 09 Mar '06

09 Mar '06

Quite interesting... http://www.forbes.com/technology/2006/03/09/torvalds-linux-licensing-cz_dl_… -- Ian McDonald Web: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4 Blog: http://imcdnzl.blogspot.com WAND Network Research Group Department of Computer Science University of Waikato New Zealand

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Novell hopes its next desktop will leapfrog Windows
by Ian McDonald 09 Mar '06

09 Mar '06

By Ingrid Marson http://news.com.com/Novell+hopes+its+next+desktop+will+leapfrog+Windows/210… Story last modified Thu Mar 09 12:05:50 PST 2006 advertisement Novell on Thursday unveiled the features that will be available in the next version of its Linux desktop product--SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop--which the company claims will be more usable than any other desktop product on the market. "We have made a big investment taking the Linux desktop past everybody. The usability work we've done is not to reinvent Windows, but to reinvent a better desktop," Greg Mancusi-Ungaro, Novell's director of marketing for Linux and open source, told ZDNet UK on Wednesday. "When Microsoft Vista ships it will catch up to us in a number of areas, but we'll enjoy six months where Novell's Linux desktop is in the lead," he said. The SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED), which will be available beginning this summer, is a "big change for Linux" as it is now suitable for all enterprise users, according to Mancusi-Ungaro. "Up until now the Linux desktop has primarily been deployed in specialized circumstances--as a fixed-function workstation or as a transactional desktop," he said. "Now, for first time, we can tell you with confidence that it can be deployed for general office workers." Important new features in SLED include an animated user interface and integrated desktop search. Other features that Novell is touting in the product include the addition of support for Microsoft Excel Macros and Pivot Tables in OpenOffice.org, and full support for all standard network and printing protocols, allowing plug-and-play functionality for cameras, USB drives, personal music players and printers. The animated GUI takes advantage of the XGL graphics software, which Novell made available to the open-source community last month. The GUI makes the Linux desktop more usable, for example, by providing visual cues to users when they minimize windows, according to Mancusi-Ungaro. "When users minimize windows to the panel at the bottom of the screen they will see it move there rather than vanish, so users are more aware of where they have put something," he said. As for desktop search, although the Beagle tool is already available in SuSE Linux Professional 9.3, this is the first time that Novell is offering seven years' support around the product. Novell carried out hundreds of usability tests and shot almost 1,500 hours of user-interaction video to aid the design of SLED. It claimed that each feature of the product has been "rigorously tested and refined for usability to ensure the best possible performance in a business environment." The results of the usability tests can be viewed on Novell's Better Desktop Web site. Ingrid Marson of ZDNet UK reported from New York. Copyright (c)1995-2006 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. -- Ian McDonald Web: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4 Blog: http://imcdnzl.blogspot.com WAND Network Research Group Department of Computer Science University of Waikato New Zealand

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Laptop considerations
by Mathew Carley 08 Mar '06

08 Mar '06

Might have to try that next time the machine powers off because I forget to open the window and let some snow and cold air in to my apartment ;-) The overheating was a real problem over the Summer (July/August/September) whilst I was in Bordeaux and Nice; because the laptop would power off just randomly if I wasn't giving it some airflow underneath by letting it sit on top of a pen (underneath where the fan is) or something - especially during the day. I kind of forgive it, though - I didn't feel like working in those temperatures either. Still, I don't know if I would recommend an Acer to anyone again... They have just kind of lost my trust. I have one client back in NZ who brought one about a year ago, and I never hear the end of it, as it too, sounds like its a dudd. Different model, though. Perhaps its just sub-NZ$2500 Acers :-( Long story short I am in the market for a new laptop as well, so it will be interesting to see what laptop is chosen here. Gavin Denby wrote: Sorry to hear about the issues, I have several acers and we had a similar but easily fixed problem. The poor airflow is really bad dust protection, So what we do is use a household vacuum cleaner and the crevice tool (narrow slot thing) to vacuum all the cooling ports. Diagnostics usually show a 15 - 20 degree drop in the CPU temp after this. No need to open the Laptop, but it pays to not do while its running. Could be worth a try -- Regards Mathew Carley **UUSI** Nopeita tietokonepalveluita ja ohjausta @ www.fingeekit.com (Avaamme pian!) HostENZ Data Services A Carley Network Media Ltd. (NZ) Company http://www.hostenz.co.nz mathewc(a)hostenz.co.nz Phone (Suomalainen Yhteyshenkil?/Svensk Kontakt): +358 4 4925 0459 Phone (Helsinki Office): +358 9 2316 3712 Phone (Finland Cellular/English): +358 4 0418 6944 **NEW** Phone (France Cellular): +33 6 1811 9475 Sony IVE Number: 243 700 9835 Skype: mgcarley MSN Messenger: mgcarley(a)hostenz.co.nz The information contained in this electronic mail message and any attachments are confidential to Carley Network Media Ltd and it's subsidiaries, and may contain proprietary information or may be legally privileged. See http://www.cnmltd.net/email/ for our standard email disclaimer. Errors & Omissions Excepted. Prices in this email do not include GST unless stated otherwise.

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Re: [wlug] wlug Digest, Vol 177, Issue 3
by Mathew Carley 08 Mar '06

08 Mar '06

In my experience, I would not buy another Acer - especially a cheap one. Not because of the lack of Linux support (I've run several Debian Based distros including Breezy and Xandros, Suse 9, 10, Fedora and probably others without too much trouble). The main reason is the fact that I've had so many problems with the hardware; including the fact that my machine in particular is badly designed (very little airflow over the processor, which is prone to overheating - lucky I can just open the window, and because its -10 outside it cools down OK). I've had the motherboard and hard drive replaced (in the first year) and the second hard drive died just 3 weeks ago. Their 2-hour warranty service agreement is misleading (I used to work for an Acer reseller until about 3 years ago), if I unplug the speakers or a pair of headphones, there seems to be a short of some sort which causes the machine to just turn off... and... I'm sure there are other things too. It went in for warranty service (for periods up to a week, even if I drove to Auckland to hand-deliver the machine) I think 4 or 5 times in its first year. Perhaps I just got a lemon. I do remember someone else at an installfest a year ago having the same overheating problem that I did with the same model of laptop, though. Normally I wouldn't speak so badly of a product or brand, but this thing has just been ridiculous. Lucky for me I have just had the opportunity to acquire a nice Mac, so I'm happy about that. I'll be using this laptop as a media center in my apartment or something. Go for the Toshiba or something similar. I wish I had gone and got a Toshiba. I will put it this way: if the motherboard chipset is Intel, chances are most (if not all) of the bits and pieces attached will work in Linux. Not always true, but something I would use to gauge the likelihood of something working. Also, if you can get an ATi video processor on board, thats usually a good thing, right? Fujitsu Siemens are supposed to be OK, but I'm not sure about the differences between FS in Finland and FS in New Zealand (the same way that HP and NEC/Packard Bell are very different in quality between the USA/NZ and Japan/NZ respectively). As for the power brick - I dont think I have seen one for a laptop that is not capable of handling 100-250v and 50-60Hz, so it shouldn't be a problem. Keep in mind that the next Ubuntu will be coming out in a month or thereabouts, so perhaps if something doesn't work in Breezy 5.10, it might work in 6.04? Mathew -- Regards Mathew Carley **UUSI** Nopeita tietokonepalveluita ja ohjausta @ www.fingeekit.com (Avaamme pian!) HostENZ Data Services A Carley Network Media Ltd. (NZ) Company http://www.hostenz.co.nz mathewc(a)hostenz.co.nz Phone (Suomalainen Yhteyshenkilö/Svensk Kontakt): +358 4 4925 0459 Phone (Helsinki Office): +358 9 2316 3712 Phone (Finland Cellular/English): +358 4 0418 6944 **NEW** Phone (France Cellular): +33 6 1811 9475 Sony IVE Number: 243 700 9835 Skype: mgcarley MSN Messenger: mgcarley(a)hostenz.co.nz The information contained in this electronic mail message and any attachments are confidential to Carley Network Media Ltd and it's subsidiaries, and may contain proprietary information or may be legally privileged. See http://www.cnmltd.net/email/ for our standard email disclaimer. Errors & Omissions Excepted. Prices in this email do not include GST unless stated otherwise.

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Warren Hughes (IBM) is out of the office.
by Warren Hughes 08 Mar '06

08 Mar '06

I will be out of the office starting 07/03/2006 and will not return until 09/03/2006. Hi, thanks for your email. In my absence for urgent queries please contact Wayne Goss on +64 21 375592. Otherwise I will respond tomorrow March 9. Cheers, Warren.

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